This morning, my husband read a Fox "news" (sarcasm intended) report about an upcoming video game, Bullet Storm. The game features truly over-the-top (think Tarantino-esque) battle sequences, language and interactions between characters. The game is rated "M" for mature, by the independent game ratings organization, much the same as with ratings in the film industry. The "M" is equal to the "R" rating, or sometimes NC-17 rating for films.
The "news" report cited the problems with a game like this, and how the exposure to violence, swearing and the depiction of violent sexual acts leads to violent crime and rape in society, especially when games like this are played by gamers as young as nine. Pro-free-speech and pro-gamer groups cite the rating as an indication that children will not be playing this game very much. However, those typically promoting "small government" are on the bandwagon hoping to ban these kinds of games entirely. They feel that the rating is not enough, and that retailers will sell these games to children, regardless of ratings or laws that do not allow such sales, yet do not carry stiff fines or other punishments on retailers who do not enforce the ratings or sales policies.
What I want to know is this: how does a nine year old get to a video game store to buy such a thing without a parent? I also want to know where a nine year old gets the $60 this game costs. I would expect the ride would be from a parent and that the cash (or credit card provided) also belongs to the said driving parent. Thus, we must assume that the parent is the one who allows a child, as young as nine, to purchase a game rated for adults only.
I also believe, firmly, that the reason for violence in society is far less related to violent movies or video games and far more related to the lack of parenting and conversation between parents and children.
The other question I will ask is this: is Bullet Storm (its mere title alone should give a clue as to its content) what contributes to violence and rape in our society any more than programs such as Jersey Shore? I mean, when I see a preview for such a program, it incites a violent tendency in me. It doesn't lead me to respect women or their bodies either, since the program seems as if it depicts women devaluing their own selves. This program is on regular television and is probably seen by more nine year olds than most "M" rated video games. I have seen Nick and Nora's Infinite Play List as well as Midnight Cowboy. I have to say that I would rather my thirteen-year-old see the latter than the former, which is rated PG-13 to Midnight Cowboy's infamous "X" rating, the equivalent to today's NC-17. I see the preview for Jersey Shore and it makes me think of that old Paris-Hilton-on-a-farm show as PBS programming.
While I would certainly have a conversation (the "c" word in most family homes since it is avoided at all costs) with my teen before and after watching Midnight Cowboy, the extent of the conversation and its content would be far less than what was required after we viewed, as a family, Nick and Nora. Personally, having viewed the Bullet Storm preview, I think the game can be described as what you'd imagine a game would look like if Quentin Tarantino left the film industry to make a video game. Then again, what is the difference between watching or interacting with Kill Bill?
Oh, and just like televisions and computers can be set to disallow access to various websites or programs, so, too, can an xbox be set to not play "M" rated games. Of course, most parents who complain about this kind of thing do not even know that much about the xbox, do not research, watch or discuss the games their children request, and thereby do not parent in the active verb sense of that word. THIS is what leads to violence in society and to sexual violence against women.
No comments:
Post a Comment